"What do you really think of Harry's betrothal, Zdena?" she begins at last, after a long silence.
At this question the blood rushes to Zdena's cheeks; nevertheless her answer sounds quite self-possessed.
"What shall I say? I was very much surprised."
"So was I," Heda confesses. "At first I was raging, for, after all, elle n'est pas de notre monde. But lately so many young men of our set have married nobodies that one begins to be accustomed to it, although I must say I am by no means enchanted with it yet. One's own brother,--it comes very near; but it is best to shut one's eyes in such cases. Setting aside the mésalliance, there is no objection to make to Paula. She is pretty, clover, frightfully cultivated,--too cultivated: it is rather bad form,--and for the rest, if she would only dress a little better, she would be quite presentable. And then she makes such advances; it is touching. The last time I dined at Dobrotschau I found in my napkin a butterfly pendant, with little sapphires and rubies in its diamond wings. I must show it to you; 'tis delicious," she rattles on.
"And what did you find in your napkin, Vips?" asks Zdena, who seems to herself to be talking of people with whom she has not the slightest connection, so strange is the whole affair.
"I? I was not at the dinner," says the boy.
"Not invited?" Zdena rallies him.
"Not invited!" Vips draws down the corners of his mouth scornfully. "Oh, indeed! not invited! Why, they invited the entire household,--even her!" He motions disdainfully towards the open door, through which Fräulein Laut can be seen sitting at the piano. "Yes, we were even asked to bring Hector. But I stayed at home, because I cannot endure those Harfinks."
"Ah! your sentiments are also opposed to the mésalliance?" Zdena goes on, ironically.
"Mésalliance!" shouts Vips. "You know very well that I am a Liberal!"